1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,840 Speaker 1: Long Shot is a production of McClatchy Studios and I 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 1: Heart Radio previously on Payback. The female athletes are using 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: their platforms in ways that we have never seen before. 4 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: The players Union, demanding an into what it calls systemic 5 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:19,760 Speaker 1: abuse plaguing the NWSL, was like, I have my dignity 6 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: and I'm tired of the bullshit. He would be like, 7 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:25,599 Speaker 1: why are you playing like Crafts days? Because your son 8 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: was up all night. We won that year. We had 9 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: no business learning what we did, and I think it's 10 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: because of like the joy of the game. She breaks 11 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 1: a scoring record. She's an olden boot champion. She's working 12 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: below minimum wage and hopes to make that national team. 13 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: Growing up, I wanted dissembling. Whenever I'd blow out candles 14 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: on my birthday, write a letter to stand up for Christmas, 15 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: or throw a penny in a fountain. I would always 16 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: wish for a brother or sister. Isabelle Rockaway is eighteen 17 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:00,120 Speaker 1: years old and has been fine tuning. Her essay is 18 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 1: for college applications. Here she's reading me one of her 19 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 1: admissions essays. This wish soon became a reality and my 20 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 1: life change forever. Jessica and Jeremiah weren't my biological siblings 21 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: or even adopted siblings. There were simply a single young 22 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:17,559 Speaker 1: mother and her six year old boy who were seeking 23 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 1: a place to sit. At the start of the season, 24 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 1: so much in soccer seemed to be going right for Jess. 25 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: She'd added an NWSL title to her championship resume, and 26 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: she earned a little playing time for the U S 27 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: women's national team. In Jessic's life, however, the difficulties have 28 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: rarely seemed to come on the soccer field. At home, 29 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 1: the challenges of being an overworked and underpaid single mom. 30 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: We're catching up with her. She started coaching Isabel, and 31 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 1: that's how we met Isabel's father, Dan Rockaway. As we 32 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: get to know Jess, we got to know her story 33 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: as well, and it was a sad story. I just 34 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: felt like, if this were my daughter, I would want 35 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: to be there for her. So we try to provide, 36 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: you know, of the best support system that someone like 37 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 1: her could have in a career of off seasons filled 38 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: with second jobs. It was the connection Jess found with 39 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: one particular teenager and her parents that would alter the 40 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 1: trajectory of all their lives. Dan and Marta Rockaway I 41 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,959 Speaker 1: called in my North Carolina family literally like a mom 42 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: and dad to me. And they have a daughter, Isabelle, 43 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 1: who I called my sister. I was coaching there for 44 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: a while and we just got like super close. We 45 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: just became one big family. By the time she met 46 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 1: the rock Ways, Jesse's career arc had been a case 47 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 1: study in perseverance over trauma and adversity. McDonald got it 48 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: behind and the soccer world was about to see what 49 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:47,079 Speaker 1: a difference a little stability could make. Definite again from 50 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: The Charlotte Observer, Raleigh News, An Observer, McClatchy Studios, and 51 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio. This is Payback. I'm alexandreav and this 52 00:02:55,560 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 1: is part seven. Smooth as Butter. I mean, the war 53 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 1: between the sexes could become an armor gandon if we 54 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: don't get on with our revolution. During dress McDonald's trial 55 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: with the U S women's national team, the question of 56 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 1: equality was once again on players minds, as late feminist 57 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: Betty for Dan put it more than forty years prior. 58 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:23,679 Speaker 1: But if we do get on with it, and we 59 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: restructures deciety to make equality really possible, that I think 60 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 1: the war between the sexes will end. After years of 61 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: battling the US Soccer Federation largely behind the scenes for 62 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 1: what they believed was fair compensation, The women's national team 63 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: players launched an aggressive news stand Today, five of America's 64 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: top athletes filed a federal complaint charging that soccer pays 65 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 1: women a pittance to win world championships while it pays 66 00:03:53,800 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: big to the men who lose them. Alex Morrigan, Harley Lloyd, 67 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: Megan Rippino, Becky Sauerbrun and Hope Solo collectively filed their 68 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: federal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It was 69 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: a landmark moment in the modern iteration of the U 70 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: S women's teams fight for equal pay. Currently, when athletes 71 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: play in World Cup Games, qualifiers, and non competitive friendly matches, 72 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 1: they're paid a base annual salary and if they make 73 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: the World Cup roster, female players received of what their 74 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 1: male counterparts earned. Lloyd spoke on the Today Show. We've 75 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: proven our worth over the years, and we want to 76 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 1: continue to fight. The generation of players before us fought 77 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 1: and now it's our job to keep on fighting. Their 78 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: federal complaint would have limited financial impact on National Women's 79 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: Soccer League players like Jess who are just trying to 80 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: make the national team at all, but the ripple effects 81 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: had the potential to be substantial for nws L management 82 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: and its players. When US Soccer agreed to subsidize the 83 00:04:55,880 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 1: formation of the NWSL, it created in fact, demanded the 84 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 1: league act as a pipeline for current and future national 85 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: team players. US Soccer agreed to allocate national team players 86 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: to nws L teams and pay their salaries. In return, 87 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,479 Speaker 1: the vast majority of those players were mandated to be 88 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 1: part of the league. Having those big names on the 89 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: field obviously benefited the n b s L team owners, 90 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 1: but it also set up an uneasy control structure in 91 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 1: which those national team players were employees of US Soccer, 92 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: not their nws L teams. They were not part of 93 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: the nbs L Players Association, and any sort of disputes 94 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:34,839 Speaker 1: or work stoppages those national team players had with US 95 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: Soccer were entirely outside the control of their nbs L teams. Meanwhile, 96 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 1: their nws L teammates closely watched for whatever concessions national 97 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: team players could extract from US Soccer. The rest of 98 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: those nbs L players were pushing for their first collective 99 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 1: bargaining agreement exactly as the U S women had first 100 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,679 Speaker 1: done in nineteen ninety nine, and moves at the highest 101 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: level of the sport had the potential to cascade down. 102 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: I've played this kind of trivia game with folks to 103 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: kind of orient where women's soccer has been and where 104 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 1: it is now. We met Megan Burke last episode. She 105 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:09,480 Speaker 1: was one of the old guard players who was part 106 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: of the first two failed women's professional soccer leagues. She 107 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: finally hung up her cleats and went to law school. 108 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: Today she's returned to the game as the executive director 109 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 1: of that NWSL Players Association. Do you know what the 110 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: league minimum was that the veterans in two thousand three 111 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 1: in the ws A. I'm going to say it was 112 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 1: pretty low. I mean, was it under ten thousand? This 113 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: is the interesting part of the history of women's soccer. 114 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 1: It was twenty five thousand dollars in two thousand three. 115 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: Do you know what the league minimum is in nws 116 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 1: L eighteen years later? Twenty two? Right? That's wild. That's 117 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 1: what I talked about with our players is we need 118 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 1: to know our history. We need to know who we 119 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 1: come from, where we come from, where we've been, and 120 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 1: where we want to go. The NWSL, players like Jess 121 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: certainly wanted to increased pay as part of a collective 122 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 1: bargaining agreement with the league, but they also wanted to 123 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 1: increased protection and control over the kinds of trades. That's all. 124 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: Jess play in Chicago and Seattle and Portland and Houston 125 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: and Western New York, all in her first five years 126 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 1: in the league. That weighed on Jess's mind through early 127 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 1: I make the She Believes Cup roster, so my first 128 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: tournament with the US team, and we won the tournament, 129 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: which is really awesome, and I didn't get a call back. Unfortunately, 130 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: those national team camps that spring didn't lead to the 131 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: big break Jess had hoped for. I think we show 132 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: a lot of really good things. It's too early for 133 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: me just to look at relationships and who this pairing 134 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: is going to be. Publicly. Coach Joe Ellis said there 135 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: was plenty of time before she would finalize the U 136 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 1: S roster for the upcoming World Cup. Here she is 137 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: speaking at a press conference that summer. I gave myself 138 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: nine months and we'll come out of the back end 139 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: of this and then have a pretty good idea in 140 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 1: terms of how we start to formulate how this team looks. 141 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: But privately, Jess was preparing to close the book on 142 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 1: that world kept dream. I've been back in camps and 143 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 1: so I was satisfied enough at that point because I 144 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: got my chance. It didn't work out, okay, at least 145 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: you know, I took my chance and I tried. I 146 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: did everything I could. At this point, I've accepted it. 147 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: There was so much to be said about Jess as 148 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 1: a trailblazing journeywoman and American soccer, even if that was 149 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 1: ultimately her legacy in the game. So Jess told me, 150 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: she once again became determined to make the most of 151 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: her time in the end of b s L. The 152 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 1: upcoming season, it's going to be the first time she'd 153 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:36,959 Speaker 1: been with the same team for more than a year. 154 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: But that's not to say the same city. Despite winning 155 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:43,719 Speaker 1: the league championship in twenty the Flash had struggled to 156 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: grow attendance since the launch. At the end of BSL, 157 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: so in a stroke of luck for Jess, the team 158 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:53,559 Speaker 1: was sold to an ownership group outside Raleigh and relocated 159 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: to the tar Heel state. The Western New York Flash 160 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 1: would become the North Carolina Courage. Our team. I got 161 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 1: and I'm like, Okay, We're going to North Carolina. This 162 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: time before the season, Jess couldn't wait to relocate this time. 163 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: She felt like she was going home biagone anywhere else 164 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: in the United States. To be honest, I don't even 165 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: know if I would still be playing because I have 166 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,680 Speaker 1: a support system here. This is my second home. Playing 167 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: it from my alma mater. Doesn't get any better than that. 168 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:36,440 Speaker 1: We'll tell you about that after the break. M long 169 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 1: Cross headed back to the Middle Palm and a Way 170 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 1: by Harris Chance for McDonald g scores. The North Carolina 171 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: Courage arrived in Carolina just weeks before the start of 172 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 1: the seventeen season. Jess McDonald's her first that included Jess 173 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: teammate Lynn Williams, and head coach Paul Riley. Late my 174 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: reporting for this podcast, in an explosive report by Meglenahan 175 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: of The Athletic, two former players of Riley's on the 176 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: Portland Thorns alleged that Riley had verbally and emotionally abused 177 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 1: them in Portland. The Courage released a statement that said, quote, 178 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: when we hired Paul, we made perfectly clear the expectations 179 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 1: of the job and the values of our club and 180 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:21,680 Speaker 1: from what we know, he has lived up to those expectations. 181 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,079 Speaker 1: End quote. The courage said that if anyone had information 182 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:28,559 Speaker 1: about Riley behaving otherwise during his time with the team, 183 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,960 Speaker 1: they were encouraged to come forward. No one has, at 184 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 1: least not that the public has been made aware of. 185 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,839 Speaker 1: Dall kept ferst delivery headed by her set hits off 186 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 1: the cross bar and it's buried by Jess McDonald's. Jess 187 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: maintained to me that Riley's coaching letter to further improvement 188 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 1: as a player. Once the team arrived in North Carolina. 189 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:51,680 Speaker 1: Jess McDonald had the opener last week. She gives the 190 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: courage of what death you lead In this match up 191 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: against the Boston Breakers, just scored the only goal and 192 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: simultaneously broke the end of us HOW scoring record with 193 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: thirty three career goals. Well. She is now number one 194 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 1: on the n wus so All Todd gold was a 195 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: championship Lastern and Western New York and now her second 196 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 1: goal this season. But as much success as Jess was 197 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 1: finding in the league, her primary motivation came at home. 198 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:19,840 Speaker 1: My son is sad in my training sessions as a baby, 199 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 1: like an hist roller. By himself. He was never a 200 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:25,679 Speaker 1: crier in anything like that. He slept twelve hours a night, 201 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:27,839 Speaker 1: which is you know, really if he still does to 202 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:31,439 Speaker 1: this day. Man, Thankfully, I have such an easy going kid. 203 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 1: When Williams again, when he was younger, he used to 204 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,079 Speaker 1: travel with the team a lot, which was pretty cool. 205 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:40,079 Speaker 1: I think it's definitely a unique way to grow up 206 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 1: around a bunch of women soccer players. But I think 207 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 1: that it just shows respecting women, and you can tell 208 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: that he does, and I think we need more little 209 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 1: boys like that. When things are working for me as 210 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 1: a mom, I'm like, okay, thanks, are mere working for 211 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:54,959 Speaker 1: me on the OCCA fille as well? All right, here 212 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: we Golhan. But he's just smooth is butter. And the 213 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 1: reason why I have fun and I want to perform 214 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: at high levels because I need to show an example 215 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:05,680 Speaker 1: for my son. That's my motivation. That's what inspires me 216 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 1: day in and day out. I think that society has 217 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 1: made people feel like being vulnerable about being a mom 218 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:15,439 Speaker 1: is bad when it it shouldn't be that way at all. 219 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:21,439 Speaker 1: Jeremiah also inspired a reunion with Jesse's mom, Tracy McDonald. 220 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: By the middle of Seen Jeremiah was five, and nothing 221 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: brings a family together like a grandchild. Besides, Jess could 222 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: use some help at home here. I am this new 223 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 1: like single parent pretty much trying to figure it out. 224 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: And so I called my mom because I'm like, she's 225 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:40,959 Speaker 1: a grandma now, you know, And I didn't want to 226 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 1: keep that from Jeremiah. For Jess, everything had changed for 227 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,079 Speaker 1: the worst that day, she says, Tracy hit her back 228 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: in high school. Even twenty years later, Jess said their 229 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: relationship had never really gotten better, but she was ready 230 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: to move on from the past, and there was enough 231 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 1: room in the modest department Jess was renting with her 232 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 1: monthly housing stipend from the Courage, so the timing felt 233 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: right to reconnect. She came in the middle of the 234 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 1: seventeen season, and whenever I traveled, you know, she stayed 235 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 1: here with Jeremiah and took him to school and you know, 236 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 1: took care of him while I was gone, and Jeremiah 237 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:20,079 Speaker 1: loves her. They were super close. McDonald was there again 238 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 1: and if it's our second of the game that seen season, 239 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 1: McDonald and the Courage made believers of their new hometown fans. 240 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:31,720 Speaker 1: Jess McDonald finishes on the doorstep three one courage in control, 241 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:34,439 Speaker 1: maybe none more so than people. Jess would come to 242 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 1: call the closest family she's ever had, in many ways, 243 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:41,319 Speaker 1: the immediate family she never had. My name is Dan Rockaway. 244 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 1: I consider myself Jessic's North Carolina father. I'm Isabel Rockaway, 245 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:51,719 Speaker 1: and I would consider myself Jessica's sister. I am Marca Rockaway, 246 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: and I am her Columbian mom. In Isabel Rockaway was 247 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: bit by the soccer bug. The courage game at weak 248 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:03,679 Speaker 1: Med Soccer Park seemed to Dan like a great father 249 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: daughter experience, even if the father wasn't entirely sold yet. 250 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,559 Speaker 1: I was like, I'm gonna go because and taking my daughter. 251 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 1: And then we had these seats by the goal, and 252 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 1: I remember they were warming up and they missed the 253 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:17,439 Speaker 1: goal and the ball team flying by us and hit 254 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 1: the seats where we're sitting, and it was so loud 255 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: and powerful it scared me. I was like, wow, this 256 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 1: is some hardcore stuff. I'm like, this is a perfect 257 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: example for Isabelle, our daughter, to see powerful women and 258 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: on the field. Jess in particular was unmissable. Five ten 259 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 1: signature long dread box and a canvas of tattoos with 260 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: a relentlessness that kept her in the center of the 261 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 1: action all the time. Forget simply being powerful, just being 262 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 1: completely fearless. You know, I don't watch the men's team 263 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: too much. I feel like the men they just roll 264 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 1: around the ground, they try to get a foul, they 265 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 1: act like they're hurt. And when I see the women fall, 266 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: they hit the ground, they get up and they started 267 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 1: running harder. The Rockaways watched has just helped Carolina win 268 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 1: League Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular 269 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 1: season record, and Jeremiah became a fan favorite, showing up 270 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: at his mom's matches dressed however he liked, which was 271 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 1: often like a superhero. Everyone knows that Jeremiah Jesse's son, 272 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 1: and all that stuff there at the game. It's like 273 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: he shows up in all these different costumes of like 274 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: a Batman suit on or Spiderman suits. Jess helped lead 275 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 1: the Courage to the championship game, where they lost to 276 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: the Portland Thorns. The Rockaways went all in and bought 277 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 1: season tickets in the owner's box level at WAKEMD Park. 278 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 1: A few months later, the Courage held a small fan 279 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 1: celebration for all the upcoming season ticket holders. Remember Jess 280 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 1: was over in a corner and I was like, I 281 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 1: want my picture taken with her. I was like scared 282 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: to approach Jesse. She's five ten, she's got tattoos, she's built, 283 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 1: and I remember like kind of walking over my head down, 284 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 1: say hey, can we get your picture, and she just 285 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: smile and just yeah, let's take a picture and everything. 286 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 1: We didn't even know her. And it's kind of cool 287 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 1: because I still have those pictures. So sunny and cool 288 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 1: Saturday afternoon in Carrie, North Carolina, where Sky Blue FFC 289 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 1: opens the two thousand eighteen season on the road. By 290 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 1: the start of season, Jess helped lead her NWSL team 291 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 1: to back to back league championship games. Jeremiah had just 292 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 1: turned six. She felt at home there in North Carolina, 293 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 1: and at least on the field, life was good ahead 294 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 1: for mcdattal. Jess were her first goal of the season 295 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 1: with this stoppage time game winner against sky Blue FC, 296 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: who Carolina in the nineties second minute stunts sky Blue. 297 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 1: I'm like, oh, I'm feeling good. I'm thirty. No injuries, 298 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 1: you know, like nothing hurts. And so was an incredible 299 00:16:56,840 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: year for the North Carolina Courage. We lost one game 300 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 1: that whole season. That's just so unheard of in the 301 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:07,199 Speaker 1: USL McDonald in space, can't she be baked? Also? The 302 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: second time she does. Just scored another game winner two 303 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:15,240 Speaker 1: matches later against Seattle, and it's McDonald with her second 304 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 1: goal of the season to put North Carolina up. I 305 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:21,159 Speaker 1: remember in the middle of the summer, I went up 306 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:23,959 Speaker 1: to Paul Riley and I asked him. I was like, 307 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:25,880 Speaker 1: what do you think my chances are of getting back 308 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:29,199 Speaker 1: into a camp? Just felt better than ever, she was 309 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 1: playing better than ever, and since she'd gotten a try 310 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 1: out with the National Team of Year earlier, maybe she 311 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 1: hoped it wasn't crazy to think she might get another shot. 312 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:40,360 Speaker 1: He was like, Jess, I just I don't see it happening. 313 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:44,160 Speaker 1: They're already stacked. They've had the same team for so 314 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,679 Speaker 1: many years. You know, they've got in my position, Alex Morgan, 315 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:51,640 Speaker 1: Carly Lloyd, Tobin Heath, Megan Rapino, Kristen Press, Mallory Pew. 316 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 1: It's hard to even compete with that. I was like, dang, okay, 317 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:58,639 Speaker 1: like whatever, you know, I had my chance, and clearly 318 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: I didn't make it in so went on still with 319 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 1: my head held high. The Courage were thriving on their 320 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: way to breaking the record for most schools scored in 321 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:12,200 Speaker 1: a season with fifty three. By early gulyt Justin scored 322 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 1: six of those schools, one of the best individual marks 323 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:20,960 Speaker 1: in the league. But then she stopped Justin and scored 324 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,640 Speaker 1: another goal for nearly two months until the final game 325 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,680 Speaker 1: of the regular season. She started every match that year 326 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: until July fourteen, when she suddenly didn't play at all. 327 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:33,200 Speaker 1: I remember I called her once, like what's going on? 328 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: She wasn't playing too well and she was coming off 329 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:38,639 Speaker 1: the bench. I'm like, what's going on. Here's Phoenix College 330 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 1: coach and friend Dave Cameron. She wasn't starting on her 331 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 1: team and stuff because she was struggling at home. As 332 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: Jess remembers it, Tracy had overstayed her welcome and was 333 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 1: becoming an increasingly destabilizing force in Jess's home, and for once, 334 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 1: adversity off the field wasn't translating to success on it. 335 00:18:56,640 --> 00:19:01,120 Speaker 1: Behavior changes started with her what I would see when 336 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:04,439 Speaker 1: I was a little girl. This time it wasn't just 337 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 1: jesseeing the mood swings in the drama, but Jeremiah too. 338 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,440 Speaker 1: I'm like, can you just leave, and she just refused 339 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:14,680 Speaker 1: to leave. I'm just trying to figure out, like, how 340 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 1: can I get her out of the house. And I 341 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 1: had to call my dad to come and save me initially, 342 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 1: So my dad came to North Carolina while she was here, 343 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 1: and this is his first time ever witnessing her in 344 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 1: this state of mind. At one point that summer, just 345 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:32,920 Speaker 1: told us she had to call the police to try 346 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 1: to force Tracy out. She told me one of the 347 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:37,680 Speaker 1: most horrible things that a parent can ever tell their 348 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 1: child in front of my then five year old well, 349 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:45,240 Speaker 1: she told me on this evening of July two, eighteen, 350 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 1: I will never forget this date for as long as 351 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 1: I live. She told me she wished she had flushed 352 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 1: me on a toilet when she had the chance. My 353 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 1: mother told me that to my face. I just didn't 354 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 1: want anything to do with her at that point. Throughout 355 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: our reporting, we tried multiple times to get in touch 356 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:08,400 Speaker 1: with Tracy McDonald, but after a brief scheduling conversation ahead 357 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: of our Arizona trip, she stopped answering our cults. Since then, 358 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 1: the only thing we've heard of Tracy is this voicemail 359 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:19,680 Speaker 1: greeting recorded by Jeremiah likely about three years ago. You 360 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 1: reach my agreem and she's not available. Weave for me 361 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:29,359 Speaker 1: DA fine, sorry, L box is full. But whatever anguish 362 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: Tracy might have brought to Jess's life there in North Carolina, 363 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: her presence also brought Jess an unexpected gift. That twenty 364 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 1: eighteen season, Jessica's mother was visiting, so she was in 365 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 1: the owner's box with Jeremiah. Here's Dan Rockaway. So I 366 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:48,879 Speaker 1: befriended her mother and I'm like, hey, look, my daughter 367 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:50,920 Speaker 1: plays soccer. Do you think that Jess and I had 368 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:52,359 Speaker 1: no idea if this would happen. I'm like, do you 369 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:54,879 Speaker 1: think the Jefs would coach her one on one? And 370 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: She's like sure, And she looked into Jeremiah. Give her 371 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 1: your phone number, your Mons phone number. So Jeremy rounded 372 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:02,840 Speaker 1: off his mother's phone number. I took notes and I 373 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 1: called and she started coaching Isabel. By the fall of 374 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: Tracy McDonald had left North Carolina and Jess and Jeremiah 375 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 1: we're back to their old routine, owned over years of 376 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:17,639 Speaker 1: Jesse's side hustles for the Rockaways. They showed up at 377 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 1: the practice field where jess would set out drills to 378 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:22,479 Speaker 1: train as well, Jeremiah brought along a snack in an 379 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:25,120 Speaker 1: iPad and quietly sat on the sideline until his mother 380 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 1: was done working. So we would show up with this 381 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 1: allel and then she will show up with Jeremiah. In Jeremiah, 382 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 1: we will bring a little lunchbox with food and in 383 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:38,439 Speaker 1: an iPad. Dan and Marta Rockaway are educators by trade 384 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 1: and on a string of child care facilities throughout North Carolina. 385 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: Here's Marda. They said, okay, tour in me in this mom, 386 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,000 Speaker 1: And I'm like, I need to do something. And so 387 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:52,879 Speaker 1: I said, Jessica, how about if we wished changed children, 388 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:56,439 Speaker 1: You coaches a little and we take Jeremiah for a 389 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:58,399 Speaker 1: walk in Jeremiah. He's like, yeah, I want to go 390 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 1: with them. So soon the family started grabbing dinner together 391 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:06,679 Speaker 1: after Isabel's practices. Eventually at the Rockaways house, well, you 392 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:09,639 Speaker 1: noticed that she had no support structure at all. It 393 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:14,479 Speaker 1: was just her. And I just felt like, if this 394 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,160 Speaker 1: were my daughter, I would want to be there for her. 395 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 1: So we try to provide, you know, the best support 396 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 1: system that someone like her could have. McDonald tryed the bass, 397 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 1: and she does from the first score off the night. 398 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:37,400 Speaker 1: If she squeezes I won't pass on the outside. Justin 399 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: Jeremiah had become regulars at the Rockaway Household. By the 400 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:43,679 Speaker 1: final game of that eighteen regular season. They offered a 401 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:47,640 Speaker 1: sense of familiar stability Jessa never known before McDonald can 402 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:50,639 Speaker 1: I slip it through the Williams my fun and the 403 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:54,760 Speaker 1: second goal off at night? Just recorded a goal, went 404 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 1: to assist in that regular season finale against the Houston 405 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 1: Dash It was one of the best for mormons Is 406 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:03,640 Speaker 1: of Jess's career. She finished the season among the league 407 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:06,480 Speaker 1: leaders and goal scored and lead the ends. I want assists, 408 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:11,159 Speaker 1: will do it for us here in North Carolina. A 409 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:16,639 Speaker 1: final score. I want Carolina Fine. He was staying zero 410 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:20,480 Speaker 1: literally after that night after my mom left, after her 411 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: telling me that it was like my life just fell 412 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:24,879 Speaker 1: into place, like everything was just going great from that 413 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 1: point on. But would be enough to get Jess at 414 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:32,439 Speaker 1: last or she'd always wanted to go. We'll be right 415 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: back tonight as we come on the air. What authorities 416 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:46,120 Speaker 1: are now calling the Storm of a lifetime As impressive 417 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:49,160 Speaker 1: as the courage had been during the season, as they 418 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 1: prepared for the postseason that September, any of their fans 419 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 1: in North Carolina had other things on their minds. Ricane 420 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:58,680 Speaker 1: Florence prepares to hit the East coast, and the governor 421 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 1: right here in North Carolina as Anita's warning, disaster is 422 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:05,440 Speaker 1: at the doorstep and it's coming in. As owners of 423 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: the best record in the league, the Courage were scheduled 424 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:10,640 Speaker 1: to host the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL semifinals, 425 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:14,520 Speaker 1: but Mother Nature had other plans, so Jess and Jeremiah 426 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 1: altered their's. We invited on the comp stattas for a 427 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 1: few days to wan Let's make Hurricane threat Dan rockaway 428 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:25,239 Speaker 1: and they went really well. And at that point she 429 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 1: went away and we kept Jeremiah. With the storm bearing down, 430 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:33,480 Speaker 1: the NWSL relocated the semifinal game between the Courage and 431 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: the Red Stars to Portland on the other side of 432 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:39,160 Speaker 1: the country. If the Courage won that game, Jess would 433 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:41,439 Speaker 1: stay there to play in the championship and could be 434 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 1: gone for almost a week. Instead of taking Jeremiah, just 435 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 1: entrusted him to the Rockaways and will be let go 436 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 1: enjoy the game play, just enjoyed. I know you're going 437 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:56,400 Speaker 1: to think about Jeremiah, and I understand, but but he's 438 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 1: going to be okay here, So just cheme on her 439 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:04,920 Speaker 1: that piece of nine, Jess McDonald dealing onto and now 440 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 1: in the box. That it worked. That is how fast 441 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 1: they can strike. It was than five minutes into that 442 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: semifinal Jes scored for the Courage. Another goal from Sam 443 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,919 Speaker 1: lewis locked into two nil win for North Carolina. With 444 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 1: Jeremiah safe with the rockaways, Jessica focus for the next 445 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:28,480 Speaker 1: four days entirely on soccer A. North Carolina's opponent in 446 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 1: the championship, the hometown Portland Borns. The Jeames t how 447 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:38,480 Speaker 1: down to the championship is on and they're just made 448 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 1: every moment count, cracking up scoring chance after scoring chance. 449 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 1: Cross That is the second one that Jess McDonald probably 450 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:53,160 Speaker 1: not only could have but should have put away. Finally, 451 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 1: in the minute, Jess broke through, catching up to a 452 00:25:56,320 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 1: long ball by jay Lene Hankle and having it past 453 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:08,359 Speaker 1: Portland's keeper. Eight goal look God capizes, but Jess wasn't 454 00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:11,359 Speaker 1: done yet. Midway through the second half, she found space 455 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:13,560 Speaker 1: in the crowd in front of Portland's goal, and Jess 456 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 1: used her size to jump and get her head on 457 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:19,359 Speaker 1: a curling ball From there at Mathias Mathias for the shot. 458 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 1: Jess McDonald does it again, and just like Brandy Chestain 459 00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 1: had once done in her own championship match, just were 460 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 1: off her jersey and ran to her teammates in celebration. 461 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,720 Speaker 1: The tank top she revealed read, Jesus paid it all, 462 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:40,359 Speaker 1: nor Courage your two thousand n W South champions. The 463 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:43,600 Speaker 1: Courage won the championship three to zero. Jess played what 464 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 1: might have been the most dominant game of her career. 465 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:49,280 Speaker 1: She scored two of North Carolina's three goals. And now 466 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:52,679 Speaker 1: I'd like to present our two eighteen and W as 467 00:26:52,680 --> 00:27:02,800 Speaker 1: South Championship Most Valuable Player. Congratulations, Jessica McDonald. Jess capped 468 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:05,639 Speaker 1: a record breaking season with her second nd BSL championship 469 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:08,640 Speaker 1: in three seasons and the MVP of the title game. 470 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:12,119 Speaker 1: When she came home from that, it was a big deal. 471 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:14,919 Speaker 1: We hurried up and ran the staples. We had this 472 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 1: big banner PRINTADAV saying my Mom's m v P or 473 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:22,359 Speaker 1: something like that, Dan Rockaway. We were celebrating because it 474 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:24,959 Speaker 1: was the first four or five days stay with us 475 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:29,360 Speaker 1: that Jeremiah had and everybody approached us. The coach at 476 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:33,439 Speaker 1: the time, other people thanked us for watching Jeremiah. They 477 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 1: said this was the first time that just went away 478 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 1: and didn't worry about him at all, and that probably, 479 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:41,200 Speaker 1: you know, helped her play better and become m v P. 480 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:44,840 Speaker 1: It was great Jess with Lynne later that the Rockaways 481 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 1: weren't the only people paying close attention to those games. 482 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 1: So was Joell Ellis, coach of the U S national team, 483 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:54,159 Speaker 1: scouting future talent. I get a text from Joel Ellis. 484 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 1: She was like, you're absolutely tremendous. I remember seeing the 485 00:27:57,280 --> 00:28:00,960 Speaker 1: words tremendous, like congratulations on the wind in on the award. 486 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 1: And I know this year, in eighteen, this is the 487 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 1: year they're prepping for the World Cup, and so you 488 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 1: would think this team is already set in stone. But 489 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 1: after this text, I was like, I might be going 490 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 1: into camp like this is it. You've got to make it. 491 00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:22,000 Speaker 1: And on part eight of Payback, I was shocked when 492 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,800 Speaker 1: I found out, you know, she's the sole provider for 493 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:28,440 Speaker 1: her child. She doesn't give any other financial help from anybody. 494 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:31,320 Speaker 1: I got invited into November camp. How to think about 495 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:33,399 Speaker 1: Jeremiah though he's in school full time, he's in the 496 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:37,160 Speaker 1: first grade. I'm like, crap. She hit so many barriers 497 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:38,960 Speaker 1: and she got through each one of them. And then 498 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:42,240 Speaker 1: went two years before that she was homeless, which is crazy. 499 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:44,600 Speaker 1: I remember us saying a prayer. She was just like, 500 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:51,240 Speaker 1: I'm proud of your daughter. I'm alexandreav Payback is a 501 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:55,160 Speaker 1: production of The Charlotte Observer, Raleigh News and Observer, McClatchy Studios, 502 00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:59,080 Speaker 1: and I Heart Radio. It's produced by Cotta Stevens, Casey Tough, 503 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 1: Julia Wall, and Davin Cockburn. The executive producer for iHeart 504 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:06,600 Speaker 1: Radio is Shawn ti Tone. For lots more on this 505 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:10,120 Speaker 1: story and to support journalism like this, visit Charlotte Observer 506 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:14,240 Speaker 1: dot com slash payback or News Observer dot com slash payback, 507 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 1: and for more podcasts for my heart Radio, visit the 508 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 1: I heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen 509 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:23,920 Speaker 1: to your favorite shows.